Lin Xiao decided to go outside and sit under the tree where he always ate lunch. As he walked, he noticed Chen Manyao following him.
Slowing down a bit to let her catch up, he soon heard her say, "Hi." She was breathing a little heavily, probably from hurrying to catch up with him.
Lin Xiao was slightly surprised by how quickly she seemed out of breath but chose to ignore it.
"Hi," he replied, smiling. "Sorry I didn't say hi earlier. The teacher came in so quickly, I didn't get a chance."
Chen Manyao smiled back, "It's okay. I understand."
Together, they reached the tree, a familiar spot that provided a bit of privacy and shade. Lin Xiao sat down, and Chen Manyao settled beside him.
They unpacked their lunches and began eating in comfortable silence for a few moments.
They unpacked their lunches and began eating in comfortable silence for a few moments. After a while, Lin Xiao spoke up. "Did you hear about the mass shooting in Zephyria? I heard almost 50 people died."
Chen Manyao's expression darkened slightly. "Yes, I heard about it. It's really sad."
Noticing her discomfort, Lin Xiao decided to change the topic. He wanted to get to know her better. "So, tell me about yourself. What's your story?"
Chen Manyao seemed to relax a bit. "Well, I was born in this city and come from a middle-class family. My dad is an architect and my mom is a housewife." She paused, as if considering how much to share. Lin Xiao could relate, as he didn't like talking about his family much either.
When she turned the question back to him, Lin Xiao replied, "Yeah, my mother, sister, and I just moved here."
Chen Manyao nodded, not pressing for more details. "Oh, I hope you like it here. This town has a lot more to offer than you might think."
Lin Xiao noticed a strange undertone in her voice and was about to ask more when the school bell rang, signaling the end of lunch. They gathered their things and headed back to class, Lin Xiao's mind buzzing with curiosity about what she might have meant.
School went as expected. This time, Lin Xiao decided not to go to the military base and instead headed to basketball practice, mainly because Li Jing had told him not to come today.
Lin Xiao finally reached the basketball court and practiced with the team. With his enhanced strength and intelligence, he found himself excelling effortlessly. He dominated in all the matches and completed the drills without any issues, leaving his teammates and coach impressed by his sudden improvement.
After the practice ended, Lin Xiao headed home, feeling a sense of accomplishment. As he walked through the front door, the familiar aroma of his mother's cooking filled the air. He greeted his mother and sister, who were already seated at the dining table, ready for dinner.
"How was practice?" his mother asked, looking up from her plate.
"It was great," Lin Xiao replied, taking his seat. "I think I'm getting better."
His sister, Lin Meiying, looked at him with a mischievous grin. "You mean your superpowers are making you better," she whispered, causing Lin Xiao to give her a quick, warning glance.
Lin Xiao entered his room and saw that the sun was setting soon. He gave a quick pet to both of his cats and decided to nap for a little bit.
...
...
Lin Xiao was suddenly woken up by his phone ringing. He woke up hurriedly and found his room bathed in a weird red light.
Shadows danced ominously on the walls, and the usually familiar space took on an eerie, almost surreal quality.
The red light seemed to pulse rhythmically, casting an unsettling glow over his belongings.
Startled, Lin Xiao ignored the phone for a moment and looked around to find the source of the light. It was coming from his window.
When he looked out, he saw the moon covered in the same weird red energy that he had felt from the crystal.
The crimson hue enveloped the lunar surface, giving it an otherworldly appearance.
It felt as though the moon was bleeding into the night sky, and the sight filled him with an inexplicable dread.
Shocked, Lin Xiao quickly took out his phone and saw that it was Li Jing calling him. He answered the call with a trembling hand.
"Li Jing, what's happening?" Lin Xiao asked, his voice barely steady.
"Lin Xiao, you need to come to the base immediately," Li Jing said urgently. "The phenomenon we've been monitoring, it's happening right now. We need everyone on deck."
Lin Xiao's heart raced as he threw on his shoes and grabbed his jacket. He cast one last glance at the red-tinted moon before rushing out of his room.
The urgency in Li Jing's voice echoed in his mind, and he knew that whatever was happening, it was far beyond anything he had ever encountered before.
As he hurried down the stairs, his mother called out from the kitchen, "Lin Xiao, where are you going?"
"Emergency, Mom! I'll explain later!" he shouted back, dashing out the door.
But Lin Xiao suddenly stopped on the doorstep and went back to the kitchen. Why wasn't his mother worried about the weird red glow on the moon? Lin Xiao approached her, asking, "Mom, have you seen the moon?"
His mother looked out of the window and said, "Oh, it looks normal. Are you alright, Lin Xiao? Where are you going?"
Lin Xiao replied, "I'm fine, just my friends called me. I'll be back soon," and rushed out, not wishing to explain right now.
His mother sighed, watching her son's back. She thought, at least he was not sad now, and went back to the kitchen.
Outside, the weird red glow from the moon illuminated everything, yet Lin Xiao noticed that normal people didn't seem to notice it.
It was as if only he could see this eerie phenomenon. Lin Xiao finally reached the bus stop to go to the military base.
He sat there, waiting for the bus and staring at the moon, trying to make sense of the situation.
Soon, a car stopped in front of him. A soldier stepped out and asked, "Mr. Lin? I'm here to take you to the base."
Lin Xiao nodded and got into the car. The soldier, without another word, started driving. As they sped towards the military base, Lin Xiao couldn't help but feel a growing sense of unease.
The red glow seemed to intensify, and he could see it reflected in the rearview mirror, giving the whole world a surreal, almost apocalyptic hue.